Chapter 66: Carmen

Third POV

The air between them had grown thick, heavy with unspoken words and hidden tensions. Carmen's smile remained fixed, her golden hair gleaming under the candlelight, but her eyes continued to assess Hecate with the cold precision of a woman who was used to sizing up her competition and finding them wanting.

He glanced at her. Her face was pale, her expression carefully blank. But her eyes were fixed on Carmen with an intensity that made him uneasy.

She knew this woman. He was certain of it.

Carmen's gaze shifted to Hecate, her smile widening. "And who is this beautiful creature, Your Majesty? You must introduce us."

"This is Hecate," Maddox said, watching Hecate's face. "She is the queen's healer. She has been instrumental in Odette's recovery."

"Hecate." Carmen repeated the name as if tasting it. "What an unusual name."

Hecate inclined her head, her expression unchanged. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Luna Carmen. Alpha Erebus."

"The pleasure is ours," Alpha Erebus said, though his eyes had already drifted back to the crowd, searching for someone else to greet.

Carmen, however, remained focused on Hecate. Her gaze swept over the healer's gown, her hair, her face, cataloging, assessing.

"You look familiar," Carmen said. "Have we met before?"

Hecate's smile did not waver. "I doubt it, my lady. I have only recently arrived at Emberclaw. Before that, I lived in the Midnight Pack, far from Blackthorn."

Carmen's eyes narrowed. For a moment, something flickered across her face. Suspicion, perhaps. Or recognition.

Then the moment passed.

"Midnight Pack," Carmen said. "Yes, I have heard rumors about the witches who live there." She laughed, a light, tinkling sound. "I hope you are not planning to turn us all into frogs, Hecate."

"I left my frog turning potion in my other robe, my lady."

Carmen's smile froze. She was not accustomed to being met with wit. Her smile widened, but it did not reach her eyes. "The queen's healer. How fortunate for Queen Odette. I have heard she has been unwell for some time. It must be a comfort to have someone so dedicated to her care."

"She is improving," Hecate said. "Every day."

"How wonderful." Carmen's gaze swept over Hecate's gown, her hair, her face, cataloging every detail. "You must be very skilled at your craft."

"I do my best."

The words hung in the air, polite and meaningless. But beneath the surface, something else simmered. Maddox could feel it, a current of tension that had nothing to do with the formalities of the evening.

Hecate was uncomfortable. He could see it in the set of her shoulders, the way her fingers tightened around her wine glass, the way her breathing had become shallow and controlled. She was holding herself together, but barely.

Carmen, for her part, seemed unaware of the effect she was having. Or perhaps she was aware and simply did not care. She continued to chat, asking about Hecate's methods, her training, her time in the Midnight Pack. Hecate answered each question with measured politeness, giving nothing away, revealing nothing of herself.

But the tension did not ease.

Alpha Erebus, standing beside his wife, seemed oblivious to the undercurrents. He was a practical man, more concerned with trade routes and grain shipments than with the subtle social dances of the court. He nodded along to the conversation, his eyes wandering to the crowd, clearly eager to move on.

Maddox found himself watching Hecate closely, searching for clues. Why was she so tense? Did she know Carmen from somewhere? Had they crossed paths before? The questions gnawed at him, but there was no time to ask. The festival was reaching its peak, and the ceremony would begin soon.

A commotion near the center of the hall drew his attention.

Alpha Torin of Wildheart stood face to face with Alpha Orion of Obsidian, his face red with anger, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Orion stood motionless, his massive frame unmoving, his expression unreadable. The other guests had stepped back, giving the two alphas a wide berth.

"You insulted me," Torin growled, loud enough for half the hall to hear. "In front of my own pack. I will not forget it."

Orion said nothing. He simply stood there, his dark eyes fixed on Torin with an expression that might have been patience or might have been contempt. His silence seemed to infuriate Torin even more.

The Wildheart Alpha took a step forward, his chest puffing out, his hands rising as if to shove the larger man. The crowd gasped. A few guests moved closer, eager to witness the spectacle. Others stepped further back, fearing violence.

"This is not the time or place," Maddox said, excusing himself from Carmen and Erebus. He crossed the hall quickly, inserting himself between the two alphas before Torin could do something foolish. "Whatever disagreement you have, it will wait until after the festival."

Torin's jaw tightened. His eyes blazed with barely contained fury. "With respect, Your Majesty, this has gone on long enough. The man called me a fool in front of my own council. My own council. Do you know how that looks? How that undermines my authority?"

"I did not call you a fool," Orion said, his voice low and calm, utterly unruffled by Torin's outburst. "I said your decision was foolish. There is a difference. A person can make a foolish decision without being a fool themselves."

"You see?" Torin gestured wildly at Orion, his face growing redder. "He insults me again! Right here, in front of everyone. I demand satisfaction."

Maddox raised a hand, silencing both of them. The weight of his authority pressed down on the two alphas, and even Torin, hot headed as he was, fell silent.

"I said this is not the time or place," Maddox repeated, his voice cold now, dangerous. "You will both behave yourselves tonight. There will be no fighting, no demands, no scenes. Tomorrow, we will discuss your dispute in my council chamber. Is that understood?"

Torin glared at Orion, his chest heaving, but he nodded. His hands unclenched. His shoulders sagged slightly, the fight draining out of him.

Orion inclined his head, his expression unchanged. "As you command, Your Majesty."

"Good." Maddox stepped back, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, reminding them that they were being watched. "Now enjoy the festival. That is an order."

The two alphas stepped back, retreating to opposite sides of the hall. Torin was still muttering under his breath, but he kept his distance. Orion returned to his wife, his massive frame moving through the crowd with surprising grace.

The crowd slowly resumed its chatter, the tension dissipating now that the immediate danger had passed. The musicians struck up a new melody, something light and joyful, and the guests returned to their conversations.

Maddox exhaled slowly and turned back toward where Hecate had been standing.

She was gone.

His heart clenched. He scanned the crowd, searching for her dark gown, her loose hair, her pale face. But she was nowhere to be seen. The space beside the pillar where she had stood was empty, occupied now by a group of chattering nobles who had no idea they were standing where a mystery had been.

He moved through the crowd, his eyes sweeping the hall, but she was not there. Not near the windows, not near the doors, not among the clusters of guests. She had vanished, as if she had never been there at all.

But her scent lingered.

Faint, almost imperceptible beneath the perfume and wine and sweat of the crowd, but there. Lavender and something darker, something that made his wolf stir. He followed it, weaving through the guests, ignoring the greetings and curious glances directed his way.